Exercise I

Instructions: Choose the word that best completes each blank in the passage.

Passage 1

Throughout the ages, birds have been a source of wonder to all who have ___1___ their soaring flight or listened to their sweet song. ___2___ a group, birds are ___3___ they are the only animals covered ___4___ feathers. This evolutionary development ___5___ birds from all other animals.

1. 1. verified 4. 1. by

2 . supported 2. on

3. claimed 3. with

4. observed 4. as

5. warned 5. into

2. 1. Like 5. 1. has been separated

2. Just 2. separates

3. Still 3. separated

4. Another 4. was separated

5. As 5. separating

3. 1. unique

2. common

3. mundane

4. indifferent

5. mediocre

Passage 2

___6___ people breathe, pollutants in the air ___7___ in the lungs or absorbed into the body. And polluted air can harm animals and plants ___8___ people. For this reason, our air supply should be ___9___ watched and managed to assure ___10___ good quality.

6. 1. When

2. Until

3. During

4. If

5. Just as

7. 1. have deposited

2. are depositing

3. had to be deposited

4. will have deposited

5. may be deposited

8. 1. as well as

2. in addition

3. even if

4. in spite of

9. 1. alternately

2. previously

3. hastily

4. closely

5. furtively

10. 1. then

2. its

3. his

4. theirs

5. it

Passage 3

A century ago the process of choosing a career was a much simpler matter than it is today. A boy often followed in his father’s footsteps. His sister learned the household skills that ___11___ her to become a wife and mother. Nowadays young people grow up in a much freer society ___12___ they enjoy almost unlimited career opportunities. In recent years there ___13___ an enormous increase in the kinds of vocations from which it is possible to choose. In addition, many of the barriers to career opportunity that existed only a few decades ago, such as ___14___ based on sex or religion or ethnic origins, are ___15___ disappearing.

11. 1. had prepared

2. may prepare

3. was prepared

4. would prepare

5. preparing

12. 1. where

2. when

3. why

4. whom

5. whose

13. 1. had been

2. has been

3. will be

4. would have been

5. was

14. 1. Judgment

2. perception

3. goodwill

4. devotion

5. discrimination

15. 1. rapidly

2. incessantly

3. categorically

4. vigilantly

5. straightforwardly

Passage 4 Can we see ___16___ the earth is a globe? Yes, we can, when we watch a ship that sails out to sea. If we watch closely, we see that the ship begins ___17___. The bottom of the ship disappears first, and then the ship seems to sink lower and lower, ___18___ we can only see the top of the ship, and then we see nothing at all. What is hiding the ship from us? It is the earth. Stick a pin most of the way into an orange, and ___19___ turn the orange away from you. You will see the pin disappear, ___20___ a ship does on the earth.

16. 1. if

2. where

3. that

4. whether

5. when

17. 1. being disappeared

2. to be disappeared

3. to have disappeared

4. to disappear

5. having disappeared18. 1. until

2. since

3. after

4. by the time

5. unless

19. 1. reluctantly
2. accidentally

3. slowly

4. passionately

5. carefully

20. 1. the same

2. alike

3. just as

4. by the way

5.similar to

Passage 5 After months of colder weather, the days get longer, the buds ___21___ in the trees, birds sing, and the world ___22___ a green dress. Spring passes ___23___ summer. Everyone knows that summer will not ___24___. The power of all the wisest men and women in the world cannot keep it for us. The corn becomes ripe, the leaves turn brown and then drop to the ground, ___25___ the world changes its green dress for a dress of autumn colors.

21. 1.fall off

2.take up

3.put off

4.come out

5.bring down22. 1.ooks after

2.puts on

3.carries on

4.comes round

5.deals with23. 1. ainto

2. by

3. from

4. on

5. out of

24. 1. forego

2. evaluate

3. succumb

4. last

5. evolve

25. 1. yet

2. therefore

3. since.

4. whereas

5. and

Passage 6

Petroleum, or crude oil, is one of the world’s ___26___ natural resources. Plastics, synthetic fibers, and ___27___ chemicals are produced from petroleum. It is also used to make lubricants and waxes___28___, its most important use is as a fuel for heating, for ___29___ electricity, and ___30___ for powering vehicles.